STL All Sports

In 1968, football coach Joe Kuharich had the worst season ever experienced by a National Football League pilot. His Philadelphia Eagles lost their first eleven games. One Sunday afternoon, the hapless and winless Eagles were going even worse than usual, and coach Kuharich was bellowing at his players from the sidelines. The referee came by the Philadelphia bench and said:

"Cut out the coaching from the side or I'll slap you with a penalty."

A moment later, coach Kuharich was yelling again at his players. The ref picked up the ball and paced off a five-yard penalty against the Eagles.

Now furious, coach Kuharich screamed at the ref: "Hah! Shows how much you know. That should be a 15-yard penalty."

"That's all right, Joe," said the referee soothingly. "The way you're coaching this season, five yards is plenty."